episodic buffer

Meaning: In Baddeley's working memory model, a central executive directs attention and coordinates subsystems such as the phonological loop (verbal and auditory information) and the visuospatial sketchpad (visual and spatial information). The episodic buffer, added to the model later, is a temporary, limited-capacity store that binds those separate codes, together with information retrieved from long-term memory, into one unified episode. For example, it lets you hold a spoken description, the image it evokes, and what you already know about the topic as a single scene.

On the MCAT: Expect a question asking which component explains a result. Better recall of a meaningful story than of an unrelated word list can reflect integration with long-term knowledge in the buffer. You may also be asked to place it in a diagram of working memory, with the central executive coordinating the other components, or to contrast working memory with the Atkinson-Shiffrin short-term store.

Common confusion: The name sounds like episodic memory, which is long-term memory for personal events. The episodic buffer is different: it is a short-term working memory store and holds information briefly. Do not confuse it with the central executive either. The buffer stores and combines information, while the executive controls attention.